Posted on September 20, 2012

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Research and Evaluation Officer

The Wallace Foundation, an independent national philanthropy with assets of $1.3 billion, traces its origins back more than half a century to DeWitt and Lila Acheson Wallace, founders of The Reader’s Digest Association. Ranked by assets, we are among the 50 largest private foundations in the United States.

Our vision is that children, particularly those living in distressed urban areas, have access to good schools and a variety of enrichment programs in and outside of school that prepare them to be contributing members of their communities. We seek to fill important knowledge gaps in our areas of interest by developing and testing promising ideas on the ground, studying the results, researching related issues, and sharing what we’ve learned broadly to help improve children’s lives.

The foundation currently works in five areas:

• strengthening school leadership to improve student achievement,
• expanding time for learning during the school year and over the summer,
• enhancing after-school opportunities,
• fostering arts education for children and teens, and
• developing audiences for the arts.

At The Wallace Foundation, we work in teams that assemble the mix of expertise and perspectives we need to design and carry out initiatives according to our approach. This means that staff members from units throughout the foundation – research, program, and communications, to name a few – regularly work together in a cross-foundation effort rather than individually in their own department. Therefore, we seek employees who are both highly skilled in their professions and able to work collaboratively with others. Wallace employees need to be able to think analytically and communicate clearly. We value the flexibility to adapt to change, a desire to learn, and the ability to work productively both on one’s own and with colleagues inside and outside the foundation.

The Wallace Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to maintaining a diverse workplace where differing perspectives are a source of strength.

ROLE

The Research and Evaluation Officer has an integral role in fulfilling The Wallace Foundation’s commitment to using an evidence-based approach in our initiative strategies, designing and managing major research projects, and broadly sharing knowledge. The officer contributes to identifying high leverage knowledge gaps; manages important research projects to fill knowledge gaps and help shape policy in the Foundation’s fields of interest; and contributes to the development of strategy for initiatives. The officer reports to the Director of Research and Evaluation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage research and evaluation grants and contracts for design, implementation and progress against deliverables; review draft research reports; prepare critical analyses; and foster positive and candid relationships to advance the work.
• Contribute to strategy design for the Foundation’s initiatives: identify and analyze evidence of effects of related approaches, identify and analyze policy challenges and opportunities for an initiative to inform policy discussion, and ensure an evidence-based approach is fully integrated into the strategy.
• Contribute to identifying knowledge gaps and manage important research projects focused on generating results that would most benefit practitioners and policymakers, and advance knowledge in the field.
• Participate in the development of requests for proposals for our initiatives. Contribute to the review and selection of grantees and technical assistance providers to recommend for funding. Lead the selection of research and evaluation teams, often using a competitive proposal process.

QUALIFICATIONS

• An M.A. in policy analysis or a related social science discipline with a focus on applied and policy research and/or policy analysis, preferably in a field related to efforts to improve public education, youth development, arts learning and/or audience development.
• At least 5 years’ relevant experience post-graduate-training, including experience conducting research and time in a policy or research management role.
• Excellent skills in reviewing and positioning draft research and evaluation reports and findings (of varied kinds, such as quantitative effects studies, implementation research, and market research) for a policy audience.
• Capacity to work productively and contribute in a cross-disciplinary team structure
• Ability to bring together and build relationships with and among external partners such as grantees, vendors and partners
• Commitment to accountability and transparency
• Experience writing and editing findings for a policy audience
• Ability to synthesize and add value by connecting site lessons, research and the broader system
• Excellent conceptual, analytic and forward thinking skills
• Excellent project management skills and ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Outstanding communication skills: listening, writing, speaking
• Ability to travel 15 – 25% of the time

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to WallaceRE@phillipsoppenheim.com to the attention of Susan Meade. The Wallace Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to maintaining a diverse workplace where differing perspectives are a source of strength.

Application Instructions